Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-01-27

Z
legislatures to place certain limitations
upon corporations in the conduct of their
affairs is no longer an open question. No
serious conflict between these corporations
and the people has arisen IN Montana. nor
il there any reason 70 anticipate such n
conflict at the present time. in truth, the
interests oi the people aud corporations
ought to De, and il rightly understood, are
identical. and no conflict should arise be-
tween them. But il is our duty in advance
to make snch laws as will protect the peo-
pie in ease such exi-cney shall arise. Par
tiality for particular town or district, or
industry, or mine may cripple or possibly
ruin other towns. diStsicts industries or
mines. This NIGH, easily be accomplished
by discrimination in rates of transporta-
! tion. The best interest of our territory
requires that all should he treated alike
and discrimination prevented. Legislation
to this END is demand which should have
/ for its fuliillment the very highest consider
alton at the hands of our law makers. All
CLASSES of industry aru equally Interested
| in this subject. Whatever laws may ne
enacted in reference to transportation
companies should be framed with the
view Of not in{nring any interest, but
should bs based upon the principle oi ex-
( act Justice - all the varied and complex
interests affected thereby. With the ample
expcf icncc uf older communities you
should be able T. avoid tine mistakes by
which measures intended to prevent. have
created opportunities for oppression, aud
/ ~ many instances gwen r - % evils Ear
surp.i ssing those the were intended to cor
rect. The laws should be 50 framed that
while they do not invade any OF the rights
oi the corporations. they shall at the
same time amply protect the people and
our manifold Industries against tho abuse
by corporations ot the great power welded
| ly them.
TheGoyernor recommends the naetment
81 Il registration law for better protection
to the ballot box. In relation to the timber
question he says:
You should, in my opinion, mealoriilize
Congress at an early day ior the passage
| OF a law providing for the sale OF the tim
Der lands ui the United States ia this Ter
riiory, or the passage of II law providing
Tor the pa ayHlrut OF n stumpage tax Tor the
cutting of timber upon the unsurveycd
! lands within the territory.
The present law of the United States in
reference to the tinber within the terri
WA, undoubtedly intended to permit the
people Of the territory to cut and tse TIL
I the timber necessary to the settlement ana
development of the country. until such
| time as it became possible to procure titles
to the timbered lands, 10y surveys and
4 further enactinents. otherwise il should
have been entitled, An act to prevent the
mining and settlement of Montana and
other mineral territories" The power
given to the secretary of the interior
to regulate and control the cutting was
clearly intended to prevent waste and ex-
| portation OF timber but not to interfere
with the intent and object of the law, ITO
allow timber to he cut for mining and
other PURPOSES" which covers all known
uses. Yet the provisions of the enact nent
confining the cutting to mineral lands are
] such that the rulings and regulations ol
the secretary. in attempting to carry out
/ the law have cnda neered the greatest and
most important interest of the territory
our mining interest by coniining such cat
ting to lands that are only orchietiy vaiaa
BILE for the mineral they contain. | know
the secretary has the interests of the ter
! rifory at heart and would not if he knew
n, ,eoPa r.ize th.sn. Want OF kipswledgs
of our peculiar situation, OF our absolut,
Dependence upon the timber, of the fact
that nine-turths of the timber is on til,
rugged mountains ut the head of ths
streams and on mineral lands in the broad
sense and in the meaning of the act, to
g''ther with the misrepresentation or wan'
/ OF know .ci.c of some of the commission
"rs agents, seat here to report the faci'
and stua ion. are the principal causes %
our trpunle aud danger.
No peoplr living have IA larger interest il
preserving the tiaiber growing on the pub
lie do main in the territory than the peopi'
YOU represent: and ! am satisfied the,
| would heartily endorse and help carry ou
any legislation, either by ,ou or the gei
eral govern nent. looking to and providini
isr the preservation of the timber agains
wiiul and unnecessary waste, lire. or eS
portatiun from the territory.